Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior
Abstract Intergenerational sustainability is a pressing challenge, which is exacerbated by the fact that the current generation must make sacrifices today to ensure the well-being of future generations. There are large interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. However, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44250-z |
| _version_ | 1797415197994909696 |
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| author | Thomas Baumgartner Emmanuel Guizar Rosales Daria Knoch |
| author_facet | Thomas Baumgartner Emmanuel Guizar Rosales Daria Knoch |
| author_sort | Thomas Baumgartner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Intergenerational sustainability is a pressing challenge, which is exacerbated by the fact that the current generation must make sacrifices today to ensure the well-being of future generations. There are large interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these interindividual differences have remained unexplored. Here, we combined fMRI with a consequential intergenerational sustainability paradigm in a sample of 72 healthy students. Specifically, we analyzed task-dependent functional activity and connectivity during intergenerational sustainable decision-making, focusing on the state-like neurophysiological processes giving rise to behavioral heterogeneity in sustainability. We found that differences in neural communication within and between the mentalizing (TPJ/DMPFC) and cognitive control (ACC/DLPFC) network are related to interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. Specifically, the stronger the functional connectivity within and between these networks during decision-making, the more individuals behaved intergenerationally sustainably. Corroborated by mediation analyses, these findings suggest that differences in the engagement of perspective-taking and self-control processes underly interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. By answering recent calls for leveraging behavioral and neuroscience for sustainability research, we hope to contribute to interdisciplinary efforts to advance the understanding of interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:44:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2ec46ffacc34368843488a66eb4df52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:44:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2ec46ffacc34368843488a66eb4df522023-12-03T12:22:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-10-0113111810.1038/s41598-023-44250-zNeural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behaviorThomas Baumgartner0Emmanuel Guizar Rosales1Daria Knoch2Department of Social Neuroscience and Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of BernDepartment of Social Neuroscience and Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of BernDepartment of Social Neuroscience and Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of BernAbstract Intergenerational sustainability is a pressing challenge, which is exacerbated by the fact that the current generation must make sacrifices today to ensure the well-being of future generations. There are large interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these interindividual differences have remained unexplored. Here, we combined fMRI with a consequential intergenerational sustainability paradigm in a sample of 72 healthy students. Specifically, we analyzed task-dependent functional activity and connectivity during intergenerational sustainable decision-making, focusing on the state-like neurophysiological processes giving rise to behavioral heterogeneity in sustainability. We found that differences in neural communication within and between the mentalizing (TPJ/DMPFC) and cognitive control (ACC/DLPFC) network are related to interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. Specifically, the stronger the functional connectivity within and between these networks during decision-making, the more individuals behaved intergenerationally sustainably. Corroborated by mediation analyses, these findings suggest that differences in the engagement of perspective-taking and self-control processes underly interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior. By answering recent calls for leveraging behavioral and neuroscience for sustainability research, we hope to contribute to interdisciplinary efforts to advance the understanding of interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44250-z |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Baumgartner Emmanuel Guizar Rosales Daria Knoch Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior Scientific Reports |
| title | Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior |
| title_full | Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior |
| title_fullStr | Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior |
| title_short | Neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior |
| title_sort | neural mechanisms underlying interindividual differences in intergenerational sustainable behavior |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44250-z |
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